Your Guide to Getting the Best Lift Chair 2018

If you’re looking for an ideal lift chair, you’ve come to the right place. It can be pretty daunting to find the perfect lift chair for yourself or a relative. I know this from experience when I was in the market for the best lift chair for my aging parents.

I wrote this guide to give you an idea of what you should be looking for when purchasing a lift chair. It will not only provide information about the types of lift chairs available, but it will also help you know what you’ll be getting for your money.

What is a Lift Chair?

A lift chair is a chair that uses a powered lifting system to push the entire chair up from its base so that the sitter is helped to a standing position. It can also be moved to recline position. These chairs come with a hand controller that the user has to use to control the functions of the chair.

While lift chairs come in different designs and models, they all have one thing in common: a built-in electric power system that permits users to change the position of the chair.

Types of Lift Chairs

In general, there are three categories of lift chairs based on the number of positions that the chair can be moved to.

Two Position Lift Chairs

These chairs allow for two distinct positions: straight and TV recline. However, the name is a little misleading as these chairs can recline to about a 45-degree angle, but they can also go into any position up to that point.

Thus, its mobility is not as limited as people think. Further, these chairs also will lift up the user to a standing position and are cheaper than three and infinite position lift chairs.

Three Position Lift Chairs

These chairs can allow the user to sit in three positions: upright sitting, 45-degree back tilt, and a nearly full recline (as well as every position in-between). The footrest and back cannot be operated independently.

Therefore, when the user moves the back into recline position, the footrest moves up. Similar to two position lift chairs, these chairs also lift the sitter to a standing position.

These chairs are generally cheaper than infinite position lift chairs.

Infinite Position Lift Chairs

As the name implies, these chairs can be adapted to several positions. The chair can allow the sitting position to a full recline, with the chair lying flat.

Unlike two and three position lift chairs, these chairs have two buttons on the controller that permit the user to adjust the back and footrest. Since the footrest and back can be operated independently, this allows the user to adjust the back and footrest as they wish.

With some models, the user can choose to move the chair into the Trendelenburg position (the person is lying flat on the back with the feet higher than the head by about 15 to 30 degrees) and zero-gravity position (a half-seated position with the feet raised to the same level as the heart).

There are powered by two motors contrary to two and three position chairs, which only have one. They are the most expensive of the three types and can be used for sleeping since they fully recline.

Who Does a Lift Chair Benefit?

Lift chairs can be beneficial to people who have joint disorders. These people might have difficulties or experience pain/discomfort when moving from the sitting to the reclined or standing position.
This said people with the following conditions might need a lift chair:

As you might already know, our risk of developing joint and muscle disorders increases as we age, especially after we get into the 50s. You or your relatives who are past 50 might increasingly find it difficult to perform normal daily activities without being limited by pain. Such persons would really benefit from using lift chairs.

In other cases, people become debilitated after an accident and find it hard to move from the sitting or reclining position to the standing position. A lift chair might come in handy until your injury heals.

In other cases, people become debilitated after an accident and find it hard to move from the sitting or reclining position to the standing position. A lift chair might come in handy until your injury heals. Some people might, unfortunately, have to always rely on a lift chair due to the severity of their injury.

People with neuromuscular diseases usually experience limitations due to muscle weakness or pain, fatigue, decreased mobility and general functionality. This category of persons can also benefit from using a lift chair to help them move to different positions, which they would find difficult to achieve by themselves.

However, it doesn’t mean that because they’re using a lift chair, they shouldn’t work their muscles anymore. They should continue doing what they are able to do, such as walking, exercising, and other activities to help them maintain strength and mobility. Besides, they should continue following their doctor’s advice.

While a lift chair can be beneficial for these persons, I cannot emphasize the need for lifestyle changes, including exercise and a healthy. If possible, professional help should be sought since these persons are also at risk of developing cardiovascular diseases.

How Do You Make Sure a Lift Chair Is Right for You?

If you think you (or your relative) need(s) a lift chair, discuss your interest with your doctor. If your doctor approves your decision to buy a lift chair, it will help to check with your insurance provider to verify whether they cover lift chairs.

You should never assume that your insurance will provide coverage simply because your doctor approves your use of a lift chair.

There are several reasons why you might want to get a lift chair. Do you need it to help you relax and alleviate pain? Do you need it to help you rise from the seated position? The quick video below will work you through the process of choosing a lift chair.

Coaster Home Furnishings Casual Power Lift Recliner Review

This lift chair is perfect for people with all ability levels. Offered by Coaster® Fine Furniture, this lift chair was designed to provide maximum comfort and support.

It features the look of an automotive-style bustle back with thick pillow arms. Most users love that it easy to assemble and the motor doesn’t make noise. The chair has a sewn-in pocket made for the user to place the remote control.

The chair has a sewn-in pocket made for the user to place the remote control. This traditional-looking lift chair will blend in (or stand out) in a traditional decor or elegant household.

In addition, it is available in a wide range of colors, including brick red, brown, charcoal, chocolate, and taupe.

This modern and stylish lift chair comes in three colors (chocolate brown, fawn tan, and navy blue), which is a plus if you’re looking forward to matching it with your walls or home decor.

The chair provides comfort and can recline in three positions. The seat and back cushions of the chair can be conveniently adjusted and the chair has side pockets that can be used to store reading material.

This chair is run by a powerful electric motor and possesses an integrated battery emergency backup. It is ideal for persons with joint and or back pains and for those who love to spend time reading in the reclining position.

This award-winning plush comfort recliner with premium gel infused foam that adjusts to any body shape. In addition, individually wrapped coil springs in the chair provide support and body-conforming comfort.

The chair is available in two colors (blue and chocolate, and it comes with a LED hand control that can be charged via a USB port.

It is perfect for seniors and people who have a decreased range of movement in their joints. It is also good for people who wish to relax while watching TV or reading.

The Catnapper Power Lift Full Lay-Out Recliner has the highest weight capacity among the recliners reviewed in this post. It can support up to 4o0 pounds and has a dual motor comfort function that allows the back and footrest to move independently.

This gel-infused lift chair was designed to provide maximum comfort, relieving key body pressure points. Compared to the other models reviewed here, it has a larger stature, measuring 41 inches deep and 44 inches high.

The chair is available in three colors: coal, almond, and burgundy. It is upholstered in a premium, sturdy fabric that can withstand heavy wear.

Pros

Stylish and elegant design.

Very comfortable.

Dual motor system can permit the user to control the footrest and backrest independently.

Good fit for plus size persons.

Cons

It has a high back and might not be best for persons < 6 ft tall.

Best Home ProLounger Lya Power Recliner and Lift Review

This three position lift chair is a model that many users love because it is wall-hugger, which only requires about 4 inches from the wall to recline. In addition, it uses less floor space when reclining.

It is upholstered in Renu leather–a very comfortable and durable fabric that can stand up to wear. Further, the high-density foam-filled cushions provide maximum comfort.

The chair comes with a user-friendly controller and the motor is very quiet.

Pros

Easy to assemble.

Comfortable.

Wall-hugger.

Not cumbersome and easy to fit space requirements in many homes.

Cons

Not a good fit for tall persons (> 5″6′).

Plus size persons might not find this comfortable.

Some users have complained that the chair broke down within a few months of purchase.

ProLounger Lya Power Recliner and Lift Review

This three position wall-hugger is designed to need only 4 inches of clearance from the wall. It uses a power reclining mechanism to recline and lift the chair while slowly sliding the seat forward.

Like the Best Home ProLounger Lya Power Recliner and Lift, this chair is upholstered in Renu leather, a comfortable and breathable fabric that looks and feels like top grain leather. The cushions are filled with high-density foam to provide extra comfort.

It comes with an easy-to-use controller and has a pocket sewn to the side of the chair, where you can conveniently place the controller.

This ergonomically designed power lift chair is made of high-quality fabric and is filled with high-density sponge, making it super soft and very comfortable. It is ideal for someone recovering from an injury or surgery.

The recliner comes with a remote control that has just two buttons–one to lift the chair and one to recline it–making the chair extremely easy to operate. The chair has a side pocket where you can conveniently keep the controller.

Additionally, it is easy to assemble the Giantex Electric Lift Chair, which also comes with an easy-to-understand instructions manual.

The Giantex Electric Lift Chair can safely lift and recline at a comfortable pace and bear a weight of up to 330 pounds. You can adjust the chair to any position to feel comfortable. In fact, the back and footrest can operate separately.

Pros

Very comfortable due to its soft fabric and filling.

Very user-friendly.

Very easy to assemble.

Has a great bearing capacity (can carry up to 330 pounds when not lifted).

Cons

It comes in one color only.

Not a good choice for persons taller than 5’6″.

Not a wall-hugger.

Yandel Power Lift Recliner Reviews

This contemporary reclining lift chair by Signature Design by Ashley is designed for comfort and support. It features dual motors so that you can easily recline. The chair also elevates your legs if you’re looking forward to lounging in front of your TV.

The upholstery consists of faux leather and the seat is injected with thick cushions for comfort. The seat is reinforced with metal, making it a durable choice for your home.

Worried about size?

This chair has a high back and has a seat height of 20 inches. It can measure up to 69 inches when fully reclined, with a recline footrest of 19.5 inches.

Another feature of this recliner is that it has battery pack back up in case you experience a power outage. However, it requires two nine volt batteries, which have to be bought separately.

Pros

Very quiet motor.

Easy to assemble.

The chair is durable and features metal-reinforced seat and footrest.

The back and Ottoman can be moved separately.

Cons

It’s not a wall hugger, and it requires a distance of at least 16 inches to have it fully reclined.

It is expensive.

Available in two colors only: black and saddle.

Honorable Mention in 2018

Ashley Ernestine Power Lift Recliner

For less than $600, this power lift recliner is unmatched in terms of design and comfort. It has a sumptuous chenille-feel upholstery and its sleek design complements a range of decor styles. The seat cushion is 22″ wide for maximum comfort. This power recliner offers infinite positions for the comfort of the user and the lift feature is designed for ease of exiting the chair. Weighing 145 pounds, this chair has a weight capacity of 300 pounds.

Conclusion

Lift chairs can certainly provide more comfort and make it easier to get up from a seated position, especially if your joint movement is compromised.

While you’re enjoying your lift chair and the benefits that it can provide, remember to keep your muscles active and consult a professional if necessary.

You also want to check with your insurance provider to make sure that they do cover power lift recliners (read more here).

Most of the chairs listed here are not a good fit for tall and heavy persons. Check our top recommendations for heavy and tall persons in this post.

Do you possess a lift chair? If yes, what was your experience with it? Is there any other brand that you would recommend so that we can check it out (if available in local showrooms in our area)?

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After earning a Master’s Degree in Biomedical Engineering, Lisa A. Cusack traveled to a remote village in Ghana, where she worked as a voluntary worker for 18 months. She later moved to Antwerp, Belgium and now devotes much of her time to writing and creating helpful educational material for medical students and allied healthcare professionals.
Visit our About page to learn about the contributors of Healthy Buddys.

26 thoughts on “Your Guide to Getting the Best Lift Chair 2018”

Unfortunately, I am in the market for a lift chair. I injured my back and my doctor has suggested I get a lift chair to help me until I can recover. I am really interested in the Catnapper since it is a full Lay-Out recliner. My only concern is that I am over 6 feet tall. Is there a recliner that will work best for taller people? Also, do you know how difficult it is to clean the fabric? I am curious about drips or spills. There are a lot of great choices to pick from, I love the Pros and Cons on each one, that is very helpful. Thank you for sharing, I look forward to hearing back from you.

One thing I like about the Catnapper brand is that they place a lot of focus on recliners for tall/big persons. For someone who’s over 6 ft tall, I would recommend the Omni Pow’r Full Catnapper. This power lift recliner is well designed and very comfortable, having soft pads on the seat, back, and armrest. Since it is upholstered in fabric, you can use a damp cloth or better still, a steam cleaner to clean the chair. You can also opt for slipcovers if you’re worried about spills and stains.

Another great lift chair for tall people is the Catnapper Malone Basil Lay Flat Power Recliner, which is ideal if you would like to have a lift chair that fully reclines. I hope to write a detailed review of the best recliners for tall/big persons in the nearest future after my partner and I have had enough time to research and try out some recliners in showrooms. Meanwhile, you can check out the two models that I mentioned above.

Hello
I like the idea behind these chairs. I’m over 50 and I don’t need one yet but I think they would really come in handy when a person is ill with a nasty cold. I know myself I’ve had a bad cold and as soon as I lay in bed I cough even more so I get back up and sit on the couch and start to fall asleep sitting up. I think one of those chairs would be ideal for those situations.

Hi Angie,
Thank you for visiting and commenting. If you’re just going to need a chair to sleep in when you’re unwell, it won’t be necessary to get a power lift chair. You should instead think of getting a recliner. The lift function in the chairs described here is to help people who have difficulties getting up from a sitting position. So, if you do not face difficulties in sitting or standing, a simple recliner would just work well for you.

Glad you liked this and found it informative. It’s great how technology is making life easier for us. Indeed, you can imagine how someone with an injury or joint disorder can benefit from using a lift chair.

I do not own one myself, but I bought one for my parents and one of my close relatives. I do have a recliner (not a power lift chair), which I use when I want to relax. Since no one knows how their future will look like, I can’t say for sure whether I’ll buy one for myself or my spouse, but I’ll definitely consider getting one if I have a condition that makes sitting and standing difficult.

Great comparison article, thanks for posting. I have recently had spinal surgery and had to use my parents’ lift chair during the recovery process. Having the Tredelenberg position was very important but the chair was too small and it did become uncomfortable. I am very tall and it seems that all the chairs that do have the Tredelenberg position are not suited for persons over 6 foot in height. A potential gap in the market? Do you know if there are any companies who make these chairs for taller people? I am looking at the prospect of repeated surgery in the next six months.

I can understand your concerns about getting an infinite position chair that can move into the Trendelenburg position for persons taller than 6 ft. There are two brands that I usually recommend: Catnapper and SpinLife. The Catnapper brand is my favorite, though. The company builds sturdy chairs and tends to place a lot of focus on recliners for tall and heavily-built persons. You might want to check the Catnapper brand when next you’re in the market for a lift chair.

When I start to read the article I think about my mother, she had a friction joint. and I intent to buy one for her but she is shorter than me so need a pillow behind her back in all the home chairs. So I was frustrated till I saw the video, It shows that there are more than one size.

What a great resource when purchasing a lift chair! They are useful tools when your joints are getting arthritic. I had no idea that there were so many different types of lift chairs. I think it would be awesome and very helpful to go from sitting to a full recline in an infinite position lift chair.
I love that they have such a wide variety of colors and styles.

Unfortunately I am only in my forties and have already had to get this type of chair due to a major back injury.

I got mine about 6 months ago. I actually have one of the chairs you have on this post.
I bought the Coaster Home Furnishings Casual Power Lift Recliner.
Overall i love, pretty comfy, and the help up and down is amazing.
Let me ask do you have a recommendation for a similar type of chair or system I could use in my kitchen?

I love to cook, but have a hard time standing for long periods, as well as getting up into the cabinets.

Hi Brendon,
Thanks for visiting.
I can hardly imagine someone using a power lift recliner in the kitchen, especially if the user is the one doing the cooking. 🙂 However, there are orthopedic chair pads that can provide back support and relieve symptoms due to your body weight pressing down on your coccyx. One example is the Non-Slip Lumbar Support cushion pad that was designed for kitchen and car seats. You can try this for a start. Plus, it is pretty affordable, costing approximately $40 on Amazon. As for your cabinets, you can always have them redesigned to fit your needs so that you don’t always have to climb to reach them.
I hope you find a permanent solution to your back pain, which in most cases are chronic and difficult to treat.
Best!

Your article is very interesting and useful. I had no idea that chairs like this do exist. My dad has difficulty standing up and moving around. I will definitely purchase this lift chair for him. I am sure he will love it. Thanks for the guide to getting the best lift chair.God bless you for sharing this information.

Hi, John!
I’m glad you found this worth reading. Your dad will certainly benefit from using a lift chair. My parents still love their ProLounger Power
Recliner & Lift although it’s already a year old. My dad sometimes sleeps in it and I have to encourage him to get out of it once in a while and take short walks to keep his muscles active. Just watch out that your dad doesn’t love it so much that he spends half of the day in it.🙂

I’ve tried a lift chair at a friend house, and it was so comfortable that I didn’t want to get up anymore:).
My mother is often tired because she works quite hard, and it would be a great idea to buy her a lift chair so she can sit and relax after a long day work.
I really like the Prolonger Lya Powerchair. It looks very comfortable! I just would like to know if it’s available in other colors? Also, what is the warranty time limit?

I’m glad you found this article useful. One point to clarify, though. A recliner should not be confused with a lift chair, which uses a powered lifting mechanism to help the user to a standing position. If your mom just needs a chair to relax in and doesn’t need help standing from the sitting position, getting the ProLounger Lya Power Recliner would not be ideal. Why not buy her a recliner so that she can simply adjust the back and footrest when she feels like relaxing? I reckon you will save more if you purchase a regular recliner. I hope this helps.

We’re happy you found this post informative. I agree with you-the infinite position chair has some pretty amazing features.

Regarding your question, some lift chairs (referred to as power lift chairs or power recliners) use power either sourced directly from the mains or emergency batteries in case of a power outage. Regular lift chairs or non-power recliners do not use electricity to function. Let me know whether you have any other questions and I’ll be happy to help.

My goodness, there is more to a lift chair than meets the eye. As I approach my 70th year with no need at this time for a lift chair, there will be someday in the not too distant future that I will require one. Apart from depositing you on your feet, it has other useful functions that meet day to day needs. At least now I am informed on the ins and outs of motorized chairs. They certainly look comfortable to sit in and I can easily see me reclining back with my feet up. Great information thanks

I hope you never have a condition that gives you trouble to get up from a sitting position. Every day I watch my 60-something-year-old parents, and it’s really painful. Even though their lift chair takes some burden away from their leg muscles, they still have to deal with other issues as performing mild exercises every week to maintain strength and stability.

These chairs are comfortable to sit in having tried them myself. I personally don’t own one, although I bought two for my parents and a close family member. I have a regular recliner and hope I never need one of these.

Great article! It is very informative. I am glad I came across it. Cause I think we are close to having to get one for my mother. This will truly help us in figuring out which one will work best for her. Thanks for sharing! I like how you break down each chair and how give pros and cons for each one too.

Musculoskeletal disorders are probably the most common cause of distress and disability in the elderly. It’s always good to see your doctor first to see whether you can find the best treatment for your mom. It’s also great to get a lift chair to help your mom get up from the sitting position; it sure helps a lot. However, your mom still needs to get going (if possible) to keep her muscles strong.

Great article! It is very informative. I am glad I came across it. Cause I think we are close to having to get one for my mother. This will truly help us in figuring out which one will work best for her. Thanks for sharing! I like how you break down each chair and how give pros and cons for each one too.

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